Neta Revai

What is neta revai?

The Torah (Vayikra 19:24) writes that, “In the fourth year [of the tree] all the fruit shall be sanctified for praising Hashem.” Fruits that blossom in the fourth year after Tu B’Shevat until Tu B’Shevat of the fifth year are neta revai. Fruits that blossom after Tu B’Shevat of the fifth year are regular fruit. Chazal explain that the Kedusha (sanctity) of neta revai (fruit of the fourth year) has the same Kedusha as ma’aser sheini (second tithe). When the Temple stood, neta revai could only be eaten inside the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we can redeem all the fruit on a peruta (small coin less than 5 cents) and then throw the coin into the sea. Because the coin must be discarded, one is permitted to redeem a large amount of fruit with a single peruta.

Shulchan Aruch (YD 294:7) rules that in Israel the laws of neta revai apply to all varieties of fruit trees, but there is a dispute as to whether neta revai applies outside of Israel. The Rama (ibid.) writes that outside of Israel neta revai only applies to vineyards. Because there is a dispute about this matter, Shach writes that fruit grown outside of Israel should be redeemed without a bracha. Aruch Hashulchan (YD 294:8) points out, that neta revai does not apply to fruit grown by non-Jews (unless they specifically sanctify it).

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.